The 14 best public colleges in America

There's a lot of debate about the pros and cons of private versus public colleges. But when you get down to the numbers, many great schools exist both categories.

Business Insider recently released its annual list of the 50 best colleges in America, which emphasized schools with high graduation rates, early-career earnings, and top-notch student life experiences. The ranking also took into account the annual net cost of each school — the average cost of tuition for all students that applied for financial aid, after accounting for the amount of financial aid received — according to the US government's College Scorecard.(Read more about the methodology here.)

Business Insider expanded its scope to the top 100 schools and then filtered the ranking to highlight the best public institutions in the country — many of which provide an excellent education at a very low net cost.

The University of Virginia topped the list, earning a top 10 spot on the main ranking as well. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and University of California at Berkeley rounded out the top three.

Click through to see the full list of the 14 best public colleges in America:

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14 best public colleges in America

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14 best public colleges in America

41. College of William and Mary

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

Median salary 10 years after enrolling:$56,400

Average SAT score: 1358

Student life score: B+

Annual net cost: $24,377

Chartered by King William III and Queen Mary II of England in 1693, the College of William and Mary stands as the second-oldest college in America, behind only Harvard. The school welcomes students from all over the world, including 49 US states and 68 different countries. Students end up exploring the world as well: nearly 50% study abroad during their tenure at the school.

The flagship school in Texas’ collegiate system, UT Austin is home to over 51,000 students and 3,000 faculty. Undergraduates can choose from over 170 majors in the 13 different schools that make up the university at large. Oscar winners Matthew McConaughey and Marcia Gay Harden are both former Longhorns.

UW’s flagship campus in Seattle — the best college in the state of Washington, according to our ranking — is home to about 28,750 undergraduate students. The school boasts one of the highest college research budgets in the country with more than $2.5 billion in combined federal and non-federal funding and sponsored grants. A UW education is easily accessible, too, with an average annual net cost of attendance just under $12,000.

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8. University of Florida

Location: Gainesville, Florida

Median salary 10 years after enrolling:$51,300

Average SAT score: 1272

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $12,582

The University of Florida prides itself on its research facilities and encourages all students to partake, even during their freshman and sophomore years. For the 2015-2016 school year, UF received a record $724 million in funding for research projects. The school is also dedicated to creating a sustainable environment for its students; it aims to become carbon neutral by 2025.

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7. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Location: Champaign, Illinois

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $56,600

Average SAT score: 1303

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $18,798

In keeping with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s spotlight on research, its on-campus Research Park provides a space where tech-focused companies can develop new products and student interns can gain real-world experience. The space houses more than 100 companies, including Anheuser-Busch InBev and Dow Chemical, and it also serves as an incubator for early-stage startups.

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6. University of Maryland at College Park

Location: College Park, Maryland

Median salary 10 years after enrolling:$59,100

Average SAT score: 1310

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $16,299

The flagship campus of the University of Maryland, College Park is located just 4 miles from the US capital. The school's notable alumni span industries and include Google cofounder Sergey Brin, Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank, noted broadcast journalist Connie Chung, and comedian and "Seinfeld" creator Larry David.

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5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $50,400

Average SAT score: 1313

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $13,322

One of the oldest public universities in the US, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers 78 bachelor's degree programs, as varied as nutrition, Slavic languages, and political science. Students can also engage in the community around them through the Carolina Center for Public Service, which connects students with service opportunities through courses such as "Restoration Ecology" and "Community Journalism."

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4. University of California at Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $59,200

Average SAT score: 1289

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $13,723

Over the past 100 years, the University of California at Los Angeles has produced 13 Nobel laureates, 12 MacArthur Fellows, and a host of athletes who have won more than 250 Olympic medals combined. UCLA has made an impact in the business world as well, with more than 140 companies originating from technology developed at the school.

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3. University of California at Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California

Median salary 10 years after enrolling:$62,700

Average SAT score: 1350

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $13,769

UC Berkeley came in as the third-best public university on the list and is the oldest of the 10 University of California research colleges. The school is a top academic institution and an athletic powerhouse. The Cal Bears have an unmistakable presence at the Olympics, sending 16 student-athletes to compete for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Before this year's games, Berkeley students and alumni had won a combined 103 gold medals.

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2. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $57,900

Average SAT score: 1352

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $16,287

Known for a stellar undergraduate business school, the University of Michigan counts business, psychology, and economics as its most popular majors. UM also reports that about half of all students who received a bachelor's degree go on to pursue a master's within four years of graduation. The school's notable alumni include New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Google cofounder Larry Page.

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1. University of Virginia

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Median salary 10 years after enrolling: $58,600

Average SAT score: 1362

Student life score: A+

Annual net cost: $17,149

The highest-ranked public school on our list, the University of Virginia was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. UVA first-year students can choose from four undergraduate schools: arts and sciences, architecture, engineering, or nursing. UVA also has a "work hard, play hard" mentality. The university boasts more than 600 student clubs and 25 varsity sports.